Ministry of National Guard- Health Affairs, WR in collaboration with Saudi Osteoporosis Society (SOS) World Osteoporosis Day Awareness Campaign. The campaign included an awareness exhibition focused on providing sufficient information about osteoporosis. Several departments from King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah have participated in the exhibition: Nutrition Department, Health Education Department and Physiotherapy Department. Head of the Organizing Committee and Consultant of Adult Endocrinology, Dr. Salwa Al Aidarous has pointed out that taking care of health and good nutrition on childhood is main reason in avoiding osteoporosis. She also mentioned that there are two main reasons for osteoporosis:
The strong bone mass is not enough by the age of 30, in which the bone tissue starts to decrease.
The bone tissue after the age of 30 decreases very fast.
Dr. Al Aidarous explained that osteoporosis highly concentrated on lifestyle, food choices, activities, therefore, spreading awareness about osteoporosis my help millions of people to live great life without bones fractures, inability of movement, suffering from pain, premature death due to fractures caused by the disease. She also mentioned that some simple steps helps avoiding osteoporosis such as following healthy and balanced diet that contains foods rich in calcium, vitamin D and magnesium since childhood, avoid smoking as some studies have shown that significant bone loss has been found in smokers. She has stressed on exercise regularly.
Moreover, Dr. Al Aidarous, in her speech, has referred to other major risk factors that cause osteoporosis including: age, ethnicity, genetics, smoking, lack of movement, medications, chronic diseases.